New Year's Eve Health Dangers: They Exist! But Here's How You Can Avoid Them

A safe and healthy new year starts with a safe and healthy New Year's Eve. Right? So here are a few tips for celebrating healthily tonight.

The danger: drinking too much. New Year's Eve parties go hand in hand with cocktails—and, often, lots of them. Binge-drinking is no one's friend—research has shown slamming alcohol can lead to increased risk for breast cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, heart disease, and unintended pregnancy—plus, who wants to spend the first day of 2014 feeling like her head is exploding? Stick to two drinks, and consume at least eight ounces of water for each. Stay away from greasy and salty foods, but be sure to eat—nutrient-filled meals are your best bet. (More good ideas here.)

The danger: flying champagne corks And speaking of drinking! The champagne will be a-flowing. And it sounds bizarre that you should beware of flying corks, but doctors report seeing lots of cork-related eye injuries around the holidays, which can lead to acute glaucoma, retinal detachment, ocular bleeding, dislocation of the lens, and damage to the eye’s bone structure. Keep your cork in the right place by chilling your bottle to at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit so it won't warm up and pop open unexpectedly. Don't shake the bottle (duh), and, while opening, keep the bottle pointed away from you and everyone else at a 45-degree angle with your palm over the cork, applying pressure downward as you wiggle the cork free.

The danger: drunken travelers Even if you aren't drinking much, it's still best to have a designated driver to keep you and everyone else safe, or take a taxi. You can be cited for driving under the influence even if your blood alcohol level is as low as .01—even if you're riding a bike. And even people who walk home while drunk are at risk—New Year's Day is the deadliest day for pedestrians.

The danger: having something slipped into your drink I wish this wasn't a real thing, but. In 2009, more than 15,000 people were admitted to the ER because they were intentionally poisoned; of those, 37 percent of those had unidentified drugs slipped into their drinks. So, always keep your drink in your hand and watch it like a hawk. If it gets out of your sight, don't drink it again—get a new one, and order it yourself—or at least be right next to the person who is buying it for you, while they're ordering.

The danger: getting hit by gunfire I know, it sounds kind of crazy, but there are plenty of people that think that a new year calls for firing guns into the air in celebration. Here's the thing: those probably-meaning-to-be-festive bullets can travel up to two miles. Public events will likely rule out people toting guns, but consider staying inside for the first 10 to 15 minutes after midnight if you're in a private home—you know, just to be extra-safe.

OK, enough with the warnings! Have a fabulous New Year's Eve—meet you back on Vitamin G in 2014!